Today’s Killer Startup: Enrou
Elevator Pitch:
Enrou connects consumers with beautiful, handcrafted products by artisans from around the world.
Why It’s A Killer Startup:
One of my favorite things to do when I move to a new country (which happens every three to six months) is to figure out what are the local artisanal goods. In Guatemala, I fell in love with the textiles; in Bali, I couldn’t get get enough of the rattan; and now, in Vietnam, I’m blown away by the silks and the fabrics from the hill tribes up north. Over the past couple of years, I’ve made it my mission to focus on goods that are created by hand – to support local artisans who are living, breathing representations of ancient traditions, as often as possible.
And while I’m able to do that because of my digital nomad lifestyle, I know that most people have a hard time getting access to the amazing artisanal goods that I sometimes take for granted. That’s why I was super pumped to find out about Enrou, which works with artisans around the world to get their products into the hands of conscious consumers. Enrou also provides training, health education, financial coaching, and business mentorships to folk who don’t have access to those things on their own.
Shopping is so often seen as a frivolous, wasteful thing that rich (and relatively rich) people do too much — and often it is. However, the founders of Enrou realized that shopping is something that people love and are already doing and thought, “Why not make shopping make a difference?” The result is their beautiful site, packed with beautiful things that will make you feel better about buying. A quick browse through the store brought up some beautiful work from Guatemala, lovely pieces from Ghana, and refined woodwork from Uganda. The only danger of heading over to Enrou? You’re going to want everything.
Tweetable:
Can shopping actually do GOOD? @enrou_ says “YES!”
